I just started seriously doing lap swimming and joined USMS at the first of this year. I even did my first swim meet at Colonies Zone in April just to see what they are all about.
I do all of my training alone and I started with doing only 400m total a workout and now I up to 850m. I am adding gradually each month. But I am still the same speed - horribly slow (about 1:00 for 50 free) so I have purchased a Masters workout card.
I figured that I am not getting any faster despite swimming almost every day because 1) I don't know how to improve, and 2) maybe being in a workout will speed me up.
Now I am nervous about 1) showing up and being with swimmers who qualified for Nationals, and 2) having a coach who sees how slow I am.
I have signed up for some swim meets in October/November - mostly 50/100 back, 50/100 free, and 50 fly - and I would like to see my time drop somewhat. Or should I not compete until I see my times in training drop?
Shannalee -- I concur/agree with all of the posters here! -- I started swimming with a masters group Jan 2010 & haven't looked back. For me at least, swimming with others is beneficial (the camradere, others to keep up with-- "chase the bubbles", to hold intervals, that sort of thing). And on the day that my coach is on deck (Saturdays) I have received many tips, pointers, etc. :)
IOW, I think the discipline of a structured workout & having fellow swimmers doing them is a great motivation factor. I swim on my own (on my workdays) & try to do masters-like workouts. My feeling is that if I just swam on my own, I would not have come a fifth as far as I have swimming w/ a team (my :2cents:). Best wishes to you!
Shannalee -- I concur/agree with all of the posters here! -- I started swimming with a masters group Jan 2010 & haven't looked back. For me at least, swimming with others is beneficial (the camradere, others to keep up with-- "chase the bubbles", to hold intervals, that sort of thing). And on the day that my coach is on deck (Saturdays) I have received many tips, pointers, etc. :)
IOW, I think the discipline of a structured workout & having fellow swimmers doing them is a great motivation factor. I swim on my own (on my workdays) & try to do masters-like workouts. My feeling is that if I just swam on my own, I would not have come a fifth as far as I have swimming w/ a team (my :2cents:). Best wishes to you!
